Chance of Rain Review Tour

Chance of Rain

by Amber Lin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

The only things Natalie Bouchard wants to change are the weekly specials in her Gram’s diner. So when her high school sweetheart strolls back into Dearling, Texas, she allows herself to indulge in a little flirtation, but that’s as far as it goes.

Navy SEAL Sawyer Nolan has returned to sell his father’s land and get the hell out, no matter how enticing he still finds Natalie. Until a storm rolls over the Texas hills, stranding them together at the farm…and the memories of their steamy past  lead to a reunion filled with hot days and long nights.  

Soon Natalie’s so far under Sawyer’s skin he can’t imagine being without her. But he has a lot of history in Dearling he’d like to leave behind, and Natalie is practically married to this town.  If Sawyer wants to be more than just another person who leaves Natalie, he’ll have to give his hometown—and himself—one more chance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt Three:

She flipped the switch, and lights blinked off unsteadily down the long tiled ceiling. Only at the end of each day did it dawn on her how large the place was. Large in both its physical size and the space it took up in her life. Though unassuming and maybe unconventional, it was a legacy. Hers to keep. Hers to maintain.

She headed into the back office and gathered the papers. She returned through the swinging doors leading to the dining area with a stuffed manila folder. And ran smack into the broad chest of Sawyer Nolan with an oof.

“What are you doing here?”

He raised his eyebrows. “Having dinner.”

“We’re closed.”

“Door was unlocked.”

He wore the shadows well. The darkness seemed to enhance his handsomeness, lengthening his planes and sharpening his angles. He seemed more at ease here in the quiet dark than the bustling brightness of morning.

“I hadn’t gotten to that yet. No one usually comes around this late.”

“Guess that means no dinner.”

His voice was neutral, but it had to be a disappointment. He was hungry, and everywhere else would be closed. Unless he wanted a cold sandwich from the gas station on the outskirts of town. She wasn’t heartless enough to send him there, not when carefully packaged leftovers sat in her fridge.

Anyone else she would have invited back to the kitchen table, but not him. Oh, no. He could eat in the dim, impersonal void and count himself lucky if she even chatted with him.

She gestured to the bar stools. “Have a seat. I’ll heat you up something.”

His face cracked into a smile. “Thanks, Natalie.”

Man, he looked so genuinely happy just for that. Just for her to feed him. Her heart squeezed. Maybe she’d give him double helpings. He was broad and tall enough to need them anyway.

Review:

Second chance stories are ones that warm my heart. Sawyer returns to his home town and Natalie and has to decide if home is where the heart is and if he can accept the town and Natalie being in his. Light flirtation or a place to finally rest his weary soul. You'll have to read this one to find out.

Great read and a heart warming story. Not the usual grit from Ms. Lin, but sometimes you have to have the sweet to appreciate the bitter.

4/5

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Amber Lin writes edgy romance with damaged hearts, redemptive love, and a steamy ever after. RT Book Reviews called her debut novel, Giving It Up, “truly extraordinary.” Amber married her high school sweetheart, gave birth to a kid who’s smarter than she is, and spends her nights writing down her dirty thoughts. In other words, life is good.

Website: http://www.authoramberlin.com/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/authoramberlin

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authoramberlin

Amazon    http://www.amazon.com/Chance-of-Rain-ebook/dp/B00EFPNV5C/   

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chance-of-rain-amber-lin/1116394180?ean=9781426897320

Amber will be awarding a $15 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
Follow the tour and leave a comment for a chance to win!

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/12/virtual-nbtm-review-tour-chance-of-rain.html

A Very Scandalous Holiday Review Tour

A VERY SCANDALOUS HOLIDAY

by Nancy Fraser, Sophia Garrett, Amber Lin and Christa McHugh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Entangled Publishing presents…A Very Scandalous Holiday Anthology. Four very spirited vignettes of holidays past.

Erin’s Gift by Nancy Fraser

Chicago 1920

Widower, Seth Harrison, has no intention of falling in love again but will he be able to resist the sweetness of his son’s nanny, Erin O’Mara—his sister’s best friend?

An Eternity of You by Sophia Garrett

England 1833

The Duke of Sharrington left Rebecca with more than a broken heart six years ago—he left her with a son. His return rekindles their passion, but only a Christmas miracle will convince the town surgeon to believe in his promises of eternity again.

Letters at Christmas by Amber Lin

England, late Regency

After three years at sea, Captain Hale Prescott has the means to marry the love of his life and his best friend’s sister, Sidony Harbeck. However, she might never speak to him again. Despite their whispered adolescent promises, he never wrote her a single letter…at least, none he ever sent.

Eight Tiny Flames by Crista McHugh

1944 Ardennes, WWII

Lt. Ruth Mencher has always secretly admired Capt. Joseph Klein, but it takes the lighting of a Hanukkah candle to uncover the spark of mutual attraction. Each night awakens a new facet of their relationship, but as the Battle of the Bulge begins, the approaching Nazi forces threaten to tear them apart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt from Letters at Christmas by Amber Lin

Hale’s presence stirred the air behind her. She stared straight ahead at the frost-covered panes. His breath ruffled her hair.

“Were you looking for me?” he whispered. “You knew I’d arrive today. Is that why the window was open?”

An embarrassed flush heated her skin. She felt too exposed, like a raw nerve. Still, there was one advantage to being found out. She didn’t have to hide any longer. Turning, she faced him.

He bent his head to her. He was going to kiss her. She should turn away. She should tell him no. His lips met hers directly, and she moaned. She truly moaned, aloud. He could hear her, and instead of dying of mortification, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He made a sound of surprise before holding her more closely. His hand slipped to the small of her back and pulled her against him. His other hand fanned along her jaw, holding her steady as he kissed her. She needed his guidance because her body had lost all sense and reason. Her limbs trembled, her heart raced.

“Hale?”

“Jesus, I missed you.”

It was the wrong thing to say. She pulled back. “You didn’t write. You promised to write to me. Every single day, you said.” She let sarcasm color her voice. “You could have skipped a few days. That would have been fine.”

“I wrote.”

“No letters. Not even one.” She laughed hollowly. “You said you loved me, Hale, and you couldn’t even bring yourself to write one letter.”

“I did… Damn it.” He ran a hand through his hair.

She waited for him to explain what he meant. A lump lodged in her throat when he said nothing. He’d forgotten about her, and now he was lying to her. For what purpose? So he could win a bet? Because he’d gotten tired of traveling the world and could now settle for poor little Sidony?

“Get out,” she said evenly.

“Sidony.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Review:

This collection of stories was a wonderful and heartwarming. Amber Lin always plucks at my heart strings and she can tell a tale, no matter what time she writes about. Kitty cats and missing letters abound in this lovely story of coming home. I loved it. Reading the second story, Eight Tiny Flames by Crista McHugh, you feel like you are there in the wartime fray Excellent piece. I want to read more from this author. :) An Eternity of You by Sophia Garrett was amazing.  Erin's Gift by Nancy Fraser was a heart wrenching story of love, loss and happiness. I have enjoyed every story I have ever read by Nancy Fraser and was excited to read this one. Great compilation and I hope there is another grouping like this next year. 

4.5/5

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

About Sophia Garrett:

Sophia Garrett always knew she wanted to be a writer, and more specifically, a historical romance writer. Her teenage years were spent rabidly gobbling up the newest books from romance icons such as Johanna Lindsey, Sabrina Jefferies, Julie Garwood, and Kathleen E. Woodiweiss. She composed her first romance novel about the American Revolution, in high school.

When Sophia is not researching...well, she's always researching! But in her non-working hours she enjoys studying historical events (yes, she's one of those girls), watching documentaries, taking in action-packed dramas at the theatre, and spending as much time as possible with her two young sons collecting bugs, racing Hot Wheels, and smashing things in video games.

Her second passion is animals, so much so that at one time she considered a career in veterinary medicine. Chemistry, however, waged war on her sanity, and she decided training horses was far less harmful than trying to manipulate miniscule objects that can't be seen. Setting her sweatshirt on fire in lab might have had something to do with that. She still has her horses but has added a chicken...or two. And a duck. And a (house) pig. And several dogs. And cats. And... who knows what might turn up next!

Sophia frequently attends conferences and signing events that take her throughout the United States. In addition, she often presents for her local Romance Writers of America chapters and is available to present to additional authors' groups. She loves to connect with readers and writers alike, so be sure to say hello!

Website: http://www.authorsophiagarrett.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7267526.Sophia_Garrett

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClaireAshgrove

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSophiaGarrett

http://www.amazon.com/Very-Scandalous-Holiday-Entangled-ebook/dp/B00FCROWRI

CRISTA McHUGH

Crista McHugh is a multiple award-winning author of fantasy romance and paranormal romance with heroines who are smart, sexy, and anything but ordinary.

Growing up in small town Alabama, Crista relied on story-telling as a natural way for her to pass the time and keep her two younger sisters entertained.

She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with her husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends.

Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs she's had in the past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant.

And she's also a recovering LARPer. (She blames it on her crazy college days)

To be the first to know about her latest releases or to be entered into exclusive contests, please sign up for her newsletter using the contact form on her webpage, www.cristamchugh.com.


Crista Author Links:

Website: www.cristamchugh.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/crista_mchugh


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CristaMcHugh

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3035791.Crista_McHugh

AMBER LIN:

Amber Lin writes erotic romance with damaged souls and deep emotion.

Her debut novel Giving It Up (Loose Id, 9781611188431) received The Romance Review’s Top Pick, Night Owl Top Pick, and 5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies. RT Book Reviews gave it 4.5 stars, calling it “truly extraordinary.” The sequel is slated for release in early 2013. Her small town romance will be published by Carina Press in Fall 2013.

Amber married her high school sweetheart, birthed a kid who’s smarter than she is, and spends her nights writing down her dirty thoughts. In other words, life is good



Amber's Author Links:

Website: http://www.authoramberlin.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5827158.Amber_Lin

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authoramberlin

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoramberlin

NANCY FRASER:

Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher's pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

In her time away from writing, Nancy dotes on her five grandchildren. She's currently happily single (let's face it, it's difficult to find a man who can live up to her sexy, fictitious heroes) and enjoying life as is for the time being.

Nancy's Author Links

Website: http://www.nancyfraser.ca

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfraserauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7206382.Nancy_Fraser

Tempting Fate: The Review Tour

Tempting Fate

by Amber Lin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Rose Murphy is ready to break free from her brother’s control. She’s ready to open her own ballet studio. And most of all, she’s ready to live without fear. So when she sees her brother’s lawyer, the man she’s lusted after for years, she gives in to her body’s desires.

A sexy show through her bedroom window whets both their appetites. On Drew’s next visit, he returns the striptease favor. Mutual masturbation gives way to a naughty late night phone call. She’s a breath away from everything she’s hoped for, but not everyone wants them to be together. When the relationship comes to light, their sensual peace may be shattered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt Three:

Drew Laramie was my brother’s lawyer. The first time I met him, he was wearing a tailored Italian suit by a designer I didn’t recognize. That alone was enough to pique my interest, sex starved as I was. I peeled back each layer in my mind: the soft wool, the thin silk, the stiff collar, and underneath? I wasn’t sure what I would find.

My only glimpses of a man’s body came from shadowed corners of the high school football field. Then it had been smooth, tanned skin heavily doused with tattoos. Then it had hurt.

Drew would be different.

The first day I’d met him, he’d faltered in his greeting, his hand half lifted to shake mine. His eyes had widened so slightly I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t been staring—but I was. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I felt caught, like prey, unable to flee even as he came in for the kill.

Except he didn’t.

He didn’t hurt me; he didn’t hit on me. His initial surprise evened out into a bland smile and generic greeting. I suppose I could have expected it, considering Philip scared away every man who dared glance at me, but for the very first time, I felt disappointment.

That was years ago, and since then, I had learned more about the man. I had mentally cataloged each expression of bliss—from an ice-cold beer or the early strains of a saxophone over the Bose speakers. I knew he read old books and picked apart the musicals and operas they inspired like other people did for movies. He also enjoyed the ballet and regularly made use of the box seats Philip kept in support of me. He sneaked a cigarette every couple of months, an addiction he had supposedly cracked but which still nailed him in times of stress.

I learned so much from observing—and so little. Barely ever talking, never ever touching. That was what I did, as Lindsey had pointed out. I had no quickies in the bathroom of a dinner party, no torrid affair with a jetsetter from Paris. Me? I watched. The ultimate voyeur, my mind was drenched with dirty thoughts while my body remained in stasis.

I knew what it felt like to live in the outside world, which was exactly why I preferred my neat, sterile chambers. For years, I had preferred to stay frozen—untouchable. But lately the wicked thoughts about Drew had spilled over into heated feelings and busy fingers at night in my bed. And worse, I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep them to myself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amber Lin is one of the authors I have on my must read pile. Her books are full of emotional depth like no other and in this series, I have met some characters that really stayed with me. These ladies are fierce and vulnerable at the same time and they haunt the pages of my mind long after the last page has been read. Tempting Fate is a 100 page journey that hooked me from the first page. The snappy dialog, lush characters with very real flaws and foibles flesh out the pages making this a great read. 

4.5/5 Awesome read!! Author you will want on your must read list.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Amber Lin writes sexy romance with damaged hearts and redemptive love. Her novel Giving It Up received The Romance Reviews Top Pick, a Night Owl Review Top Pick, and was called “truly extraordinary” by RT Book Reviews. The sequel, Selling Out, follows a prostitute and a cop as modern day forbidden lovers. She has an upcoming small town romance with Carina Press in November.

Amber married her high school sweetheart, birthed a kid who’s smarter than she is, and spends her nights writing down her dirty thoughts. In other words, life is good.

Website: http://www.authoramberlin.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/authoramberlin

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authoramberlin

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/14jLXbt

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/amber-lin

All Romance Ebooks:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-temptingfate-1259898-149.html

Amber will be awarding a signed paperback copy of Giving It Up, the first book in the Lost Girls series (US only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour for more chances to win!

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/08/virtual-nbtm-review-tour-tempting-fate.html

Selling Out Review Tour

Selling Out

by Amber Lin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Shelly Laurent escapes her life as a high-class escort, but against her better judgment she takes the scared young Ella with her. In retaliation, her pimp and his dirty cops frame them both for murder. On the run, Shelly turns to the one man who could be her salvation: Detective Luke Cameron. She doesn’t know if she can trust him or if he’s just a mirage, but she needs his help to free them all.

With a heart forged in fire and irreverence born of necessity, Shelly fights Ella’s demons—and faces her own. She throws light on the shadows of Chicago’s underworld, challenging everything she knew and the man she’s come to love. Together, a prostitute and a cop fight for truth stronger than secrets, hope deeper than deception, and a bond more enduring than betrayal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt Two: (Erotic Content)

I opened my mouth another degree, and he took full advantage, sweeping his tongue against mine. His hand touched the back of my neck in a mirror image of my gesture, except instead of a caress, he tilted my head back, deepened the kiss. He put me at a disadvantage. Yes, I want that too.

His other hand fumbled briefly at my jeans before slipping them down to my thighs. I felt helpless, blinded by the dark, pinned to the wall by his body and my own clothing. Even my hearing was altered, flooded by my harsh breaths and his. Any number of men had held full control over my body before now, but this was Luke, and how quickly he had done it, how easily he had rendered me willing and my consent irrelevant. I moaned my approval.

 “You’re doing it again,” he muttered.

“Doing what?”

“What you think I want.”

“How do you know it’s not what I want too?”

He paused. “Is it?”

I didn’t know. A soft, almost inaudible sob escaped.

“Shit.”

He pulled away, and I was sure it was over. Just like in his apartment, he didn’t want me anymore. But in seconds he returned, fierce, pulling at my clothes, tugging them down and away.

“Tell me to stop.” Harsh. Guttural.

“No, no.” Against the wall, I spread my arms like some sort of sacrifice, letting his hands and his curses crash over me. “Don’t stop.”

His hands parted my thighs. “You’re going to come for me, unless you stop me.”

I’ll make him want me. Both of us so determined. He would fuck me, and I would come, and then where would we be? Right here. No future, just sex. Broad fingers opened me for his tongue, pumped inside. I pushed back, halfway there.

I discovered that he swore during sex. I clenched every time, and God help me, he noticed, using it to bring me closer. “So fucking wet,” he muttered. “This can’t be fake. You didn’t lube yourself up before coming to see me, did you?”

That gave me pause, but then his finger reached a spot inside me, and I cried out.

“Shh.” He stood up, though his fingers stayed inside me, pressing right there, pushing and pulsing and oh Jesus right there. His hand covered my mouth, muffling my cries and catching a pool of tears on my cheeks.

“Let go, let go,” he muttered against my ear, and I didn’t understand. I had come, what more did he want? He explained with his hands, massaging my clit through the aftershocks until suddenly lights burst behind my eyes, and I came weakly against his palm.

Any time I read something by Amber Lin, I know it is going to gouge out my heart and stomp it. Flat. Oh yes, her books are to the core of every emotion possible, and this one hits the bottom on the very first page. Filled with dark imagery that fills the life of a woman on the edge, we meet Shelley. She is trying like hell to break out of a life she despises and goes to great lengths and personal risk to rescue under age girls that have fallen into the lifestyle of a paid by the hour escort.

One of the things that you notice right away is the depth of character and emotion we see from Shelley. She really, really hates what she has had to do to make a living. When we experience what it is like to try and apply for a job in the 'real world' it hits home in a big way.

As this story develops, the stakes only get deeper and the feeling of walking the wire gets more intense. Not for the feint of heart, this book goes right for the underbelly that you don't see much of in erotic writing. The ugly side. The sleazy guys that prey on underage girls and treat them like objects to lust after and treat like a punching bag. Kudos to Amber Lin for crafting a story that shows you the dirt and keeps you reading to find the inner story that shines through.

5/5  

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Amber Lin married her high school sweetheart, birthed a kid who’s smarter than she is, and spends her nights writing down her dirty thoughts. In other words, life is good.

 Come say Hi back on Twitter:   http://www.twitter.com/authoramberlin   

Through Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5827158.Amber_Lin 

Or by email: mailto:amber@authoramberlin.com

You can get Selling Out from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Amber-Lin/e/B008H6L74M 

Follow the rest of the tour:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2013/02/virtual-review-tour-selling-out-by.html

Make sure you leave a comment and your email address for a chance to win in the tour wide giveaway!

Selling Out Tour: A Visit With Amber Lin

3/20/13

Ravishing Romances 

Tattooed Book Review 

Talk Supe 

3/21/13

Scorching Book Reviews

Lori's Book Blog 

Romantic Reading Escapes Book Blog 

3/22/13 

Hesperia Loves Books 

Reality Bites! Let's Get Lost!! 

What's On the Bookshelf 

3/25/13

Blackraven's Erotic Cafe 

Sugar and Spice Book Reviews 

My Life With Boys and Books 

3/26/13

Cocktails and Books 

My Fiction Nook 

Read Your Writes Book Reviews 

3/27/13

Way Too Hot Books 

Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 

3/28/13

Sunset Reader Reviews 

StoreyBook Reviews 

4/1/13 

Smardy Pants Book Blog 

Erzabet's Enchantnents 

4/2/13

A Little Fiction of Every Flavour 

Zee Monodee's Author Corner

Hi, and thanks for having me on the blog today!

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Amber Lin, author of Giving It Up, which RT Book Reviews gave 4.5 stars and called “at once, scary and sexy in all the best ways.” I’m here to share my new release, Selling Out, featuring a high class call girl and a by-the-book detective with the Chicago Police Department.

Today I’m going to talk about my favorite type of character….

On the one hand, I have always been drawn to dark topics. Gritty, raw realism. Pain, abuse, heartache. Prostitution, crime, and penury. I want to hear stories about these things, to sink my teeth into them.

I want to write these stories.

But I also write romance, which always has a happy ending. It’s sort of a safety net: go as dark and deep as you want, but know that I will catch you when you fall. When you fall, not if you fall, because every story has its dark moment, it’s loss. Every story gives you what you want, the justice, the hero, and then snatches it away.

Characters need to earn it.

My favorite type of character is the one who claws her way out of the ditch where life has thrown her, who fights her way past the people who would subdue her. I want to see her fight.

And I want to see her win.

Shelly is the heroine is Selling Out. She’s a prostitute with abuse in her past. That’s not a rare story in life, sadly, though it’s hard to find in the world of romance novels. What I love about Shelly is that she faces the repercussions of that abuse and her life as an escort with grace and humor and an inherent human kindness that refuses to be buried.

I want to see her fight and win. I want to see her try and fail. And then succeed. I fell in love with my heroine, and then had to build a hero worthy of her. One who fit the usual bill: handsome, smart, strong, loyal. All nice and fine qualities, but my love for Shelly was great. She needed someone her equal. Who would not forgive her past, but would truly understand it and help her heal. And so came Luke.

Thanks for having me, Erzabet!

“Amber Lin drew me in with Giving It Up and became an auto-buy author with Selling Out. There is a uniqueness to her writing and her characters that will always make her stand out for me.”
—Swept Away by Romance

“This story is emotional, dark, erotic, suspenseful, traumatic and raw. It will have your heart hurting yet you will laugh plenty too. I can highly recommend this series.”
—TotallyBookedBlog

“Emotional, angsty, and just enough suspense to keep you hooked to the very end.”
—SmexyBooks

Shelly Laurent escapes her life as a high-class escort, but against her better judgment she takes the scared young Ella with her. Framed for murder by her pimp and his dirty cops in retaliation, Shelly turns to the one man who could be her salvation: Detective Luke Cameron. She doesn’t know if she can trust him or if he’s just a mirage, but it's time for her to take a stand. Just one shot, make it count, she’ll fight Ella’s demons—and face her own.

Shelly throws light on the shadows of Chicago’s underworld, challenging everything she knew and the man she’s come to love. Together, a prostitute and a cop fight for truth stronger than secrets, hope deeper than deception, and a bond more enduring than betrayal.

Amazon

EXCERPT

“Shh,” I murmured, stroking his back.

“Shelly, goddammit.”
But his protests fell away as I pressed my breasts to his arm and my tongue to his ear. His harsh inhalation sounded broken, shattered, or maybe that was me.
I tasted salt and man, earth and spring. Slow licks alongside his lobe and upward, more suggestive than sensation, but for a man like this, anticipation would be everything. Or so I had imagined, all the times I had dreamed of it.
A small sound escaped him, somewhere between a grunt and groan. I took it as encouragement and smoothed my hands along the hard planes of his shoulders, his chest. Not anywhere near the bulge in his jeans, because this wasn’t about pleasure—it was about wanting.
Anything to get closer, I let my knees slide apart around his side, the faint heat of his body a shock to my core. His hands clenched and opened on his knees, and again, the muscles rippled beneath his darkly tanned skin. Was he restraining himself from touching me or pushing me off?
“Baby, no,” he groaned, letting his head fall back onto my shoulder.
No, I would never deserve to have him as more than a sex partner. And he had never fucked me, though I knew he wanted to. Every time he saw me, his eyes would darken and my stomach would bottom out, but we’d never touch. But maybe for one brief inconvenient moment, while the door was open and the young woman beyond it needed help, we could pretend. Maybe it could be enough.
I shut my eyes tightly and pressed a kiss to his temple. Pretend, just pretend. I would give him the sex he had craved, and in return, he’d give me memories. It would be a payment, just the same.
“You want this,” I whispered.
He shuddered in my arms; it was like hugging a wild animal, one who could just as easily maul me as cuddle.
“Can I touch you?” he whispered. “Please.”
It unraveled me, that plea. As if he understood that a little bit of my soul slipped away every time someone touched me. As if he would cherish the part I gave him.
I scrambled away from him as if burned, breathing hard. No.
No one understood, which was exactly the way I liked it. I ran a shaking hand over my face to smooth away the panic.
Sure, he knew the score better than most people. He had worked the beat as a patrol cop and then as a detective. Life as a high-priced escort wasn’t glamorous; it was sweat and blood sprinkled with glitter. But he didn’t know the full extent, and I prayed he never would. Henri didn’t sell bodies; he gutted them.
I panted against the headboard, unable to walk away but unwilling to beg. Luke remained carved in stone where I’d left him sitting on the edge of the bed. The air pulsed with doubt and longing—with sex.
“I want it to be real between us.” He spoke low and hoarse.
A quiet sound escaped me. Every caress, every pinch. Every slur ever spoken. “It’s always real. That’s the problem, Luke. It’s always too damn real.”
He hung his head, and I thought for a moment I heard him say I know, but the moment slipped away, the sweet intimacy sailed away like clouds on the horizon—never really mine.

Amber Lin's Bio:

Amber Lin writes erotic romance with damaged souls and deep emotion.

Her debut novel Giving It Up (Loose Id, 9781611188431) received The Romance Review’s Top Pick, Night Owl Top Pick, and 5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies. RT Book Reviews gave it 4.5 stars, calling it “truly extraordinary.” The sequel is slated for release in early 2013. Her small town romance will be published by Carina Press in Fall 2013. She is represented by Jewelann Cone of the Cascade Literary Agency.

Amber married her high school sweetheart, birthed a kid who’s smarter than she is, and spends her nights writing down her dirty thoughts. In other words, life is good.

Amber is giving away a $75 gift card to Amazon, B&N, or All Romance.   There are no individual tour prizes. Winner will be selected by Rafflecopter.